We hoped that Celtic’s anaemic 57 minutes against St Mirren last week would serve as an indication that performance levels needed to improve ahead of yesterday’s game against Newco, but many of the same facets were in evidence.
Anytime I have seen Newco this season they seem to start brightly. By contrast, Celtic tend to feel their way into games in a low-energy manner. This was evident yesterday. The game was moments old when Erik Sviatchenko was pressurised into a mistake, which brought Newco deep into Celtic territory. It was 3 minutes before we crossed the halfway line again.
Erik’s next two touches were also unassured, which interrupted the flow of the ball. It looked like Newco had decided he was the Celtic player to press. His central defensive partner was caught flat when a touch by Miller saw the ball pass through him, allowing Waghorn the first of his great opportunities to score.
Passing was clearly ineffective. Celtic simply didn’t keep possession throughout the game. The pitch seemed fast, how many times did you see a through ball run out of play? I wondered if Brendan decided to pull back groundsmen on watering duties?
Scott Brown opened in an advanced central midfield position, often ahead of Stewart Armstrong, with Nir Bitton the only one of the midfield three consistently playing his regular role. While the objective was clearly to pressurise the Newco defence, it came at a cost of ball retention.
Callum McGregor brought composure to Celtic’s play when he replaced Bitton at halftime. He was prepared to hold the ball, draw opponents in, and pass or move. This served to underline how poorly we were in this respect during the first half.
Stewart Armstrong created and scored a goal out of nothing. When he went off we not only missed his edge around the Newco penalty area, we became porous in midfield. Ball retention then took a further downturn and we lacked tightness.
Newco deserved their goal and, at that point, I thought deserved their point. They neutered the left flank threat of Sinclair and Tierney, which isolated Dembele. With Celtic unable to circulate the ball to any effect, which was the crucial tactical element of the game.
The psychology of refereeing is a weighty subject. Bobby Madden booked four Newco players before cautioning Scott Brown, but the real test isn’t applying a player’s first yellow card. After his booking, Waghorn twice tumbled theatrically inside the box in a blatant attempt to win a penalty. Both should have resulted in a second caution, but having booked so many Newco players, Madden froze.
Pointing to the penalty spot in added time of a tied game is a big decision for a referee. For whatever reason, Madden didn’t want to do this when Hill took Leigh Griffiths down with a waist-high challenge.
I could debate the reasons why he didn’t want to do this with you all week, but we both know why. At least the manager and players know what to expect in the semi-final.
Our raffle for Alzheimer Scotland to win this magnificent canvas (above) ends at 14:00 TODAY, so you’ve less than two hours to enter.
We ask for a minimum donation of £5.
You can enter through this MyDonate page, with the money going straight to Alzheimer Scotland.
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Imagine the uproar when the daily vomit gets a pic of Pedro wearing a crucifix:)
Be like a scene from ‘Dracula’
HH
Mick Jones and a bass line
https://youtu.be/NHDm4oHee5A
Listening to Radio Scoddland…… Graham Speirs just says I have watched it 8 or 9 times its a penalty but Bobby couldn’t give it if he didn’t see it……
A referee’s job is too see things…..when I go into work tomorrow and I miss what I am meant to do I think I might get the sack……
Madden = Cheat….. Fact
TONTINE TIM
The strange thing about that 65 league cup final was that Celtic won with 2 Hughes goals – both penalties!
Could that happen today?
BAMBOO on 13TH MARCH 2017 11:20 PM
TONTINE TIM
The strange thing about that 65 league cup final was that Celtic won with 2 Hughes goals – both penalties!
Could that happen today?
*after yesterday no sure now but they were blatant
Why is Brendan giving chopper Hill a wee cuddle at the end of the game
Winning Captains
Why did you delete my post at 10.28pm?
Cqn good night & God bless…….
We live in great Celtic times, even with all their cheating they are miles behind us and remember the Sevs got 1pt yesterday, the other teams about them got 3pts, we are an irrelevance as we are miles ahead of Aberdeen never mind the Sevs……
In the cold light of day were are nearly at St Paddys day and not face a league defeat, lurking Huns and non-Celtic fans in the letters if TD67 …. GIRUY
Hamiltontim
The Bobby diaries are much appreciated, I go to post when I read your post then feel I shouldn’t, very sad but also enjoyable …..cheers
Gerry
Madden, as we all saw, had a clear unrestricted view and was perhaps 15 yards away. Also known as perfect position to see Hill foul.
Thing is we all knew beforehand he’d influence the match.
The game for me was an anti climax.We did not perform to our capabilities,which gave them some heart.What did lift my heart was the display from the GB.
From the walk from the Celtic Club,how that was allowed is anyones guess,through the Dalmarnock,London RD,junction,full of vermin,to their incredible tifo,and total support of the team,they were magnificent.
Mick Jones and another bass line ;-))
https://youtu.be/76YUyRnqk-M
A Celtic fan was promised 2 tickets for the match on Sunday from Ladbrokes, he arrived at Celtic Park but no tickets were there. I saw a few Tweets about it yesterday, Today the Sun tweeted him asking for comment, he said yes no problem… God Bless the 96!
https://twitter.com/boxertoye/status/841329171217436672
F*ck the Sun
Turkeybhoy
The beating heart of our club in so many ways.
A little bemused by all the analysis of how we can fix “What’s wrong”.
As I posted earlier our Domestic record is
Played 35
Won 33
Drawn 2
Lost 0
Goals Scored 98
Goals Conceded 18
There is nothing at all wrong. We played poorly yesterday, were the victims of a bent Ref , playing the 3rd ranking team in the Country and were held to a draw. Every Football Supporter in the world would be ecstatic if their team could produce results like our Bhoys have.
Mags
I didn’t delete your post as I am not a moderator.
TTR,
Good Clydebank bhoy is Boxer
How did i get down here?
Well its a long story
I should have stayed down home on the farm and kept my tootsies warm instead of freezing them off down here.
Margaret McGill ?
HH
My 10.28pm post had no offensive words in it and I was only trying to make a point regarding hun cheating as I subsequently described. Now its been deleted because some Holy Willie took offence. I described nothing more than a typical Cardinal Keith O’Brien night out on the town. Seems I need to be an honorary member of the CQN Holy Willie clique.
THETIMREAPER,
That is an absolute cracker, sends me to bed happy.
Good Night & God Bless All.
Onwards to the Treble
Big Cup Winners 11.27pm
Just about to hit my kip, Bobby Madden had a restricted view ? He is a ref get in a better position for £850 a game ref the game, surely his restricted view saw big Clint tackle from the wrong side and the ball did not not divert, not sure if you ever kicked a ball but Leigh got his body between Clint and the ball, only way Clint could touch the ball (which he didn’t) was fouling Leigh……
If you think for one second Madden has an excuse to not give that am not too sure where you are coming from, again Madden = cheat
By the way we’re were rubbish and deserved what we got but to even insinuate that Madden had an excuse well…maybe you wouldn’t have gave it :-)
CQN Taliban ya bass
Big Cup Winners
11.27
I think I misinterpreted your post, apologies, reading with one eye open and an iPad with 7% battery :-)
Gerry you may want to read my post again…..
Come on Hugh Cornwall….give it some boot
Ah you just did……
Margaret, I’m the guy who found it objectionable. First time in my life I have been described as a Holy Willie.
I accept I’m probably a different generation to you, ( Seventy next birthday) & maybe that type of talk is par for the course now).
However I can’t change who I am or my background and quite genuinely I do find that kind of talk distasteful to say the least and I feel I was entitled to express my opinion as such.
Mags come on matey, you have a bigger fixation on that topic than your average currant.
Give it a break.
Big Cup Winners 11.44 & 11.46
Cheers…..
If you read any of my posts I always get things wrong :-)
No wonder my wife & daughter don’t let me out a lot :-)
winning captains on 13th March 2017 11:35 pm
Well you know who does.
Some people’s English comprehension on here leaves a lot to be desired.
Clue: Tim reapers “groundhog day” comment.
I made the same comment last night but was not deleted because it gave no offence until corkcelt emailed the moderators tonight after I copy pasted it.
Chumps.
So you better go back and delete the same comment from last night for consistency.
Consistency. Morality. Applying the rules as you see fit.
Who do you think you are? MIBS?
BAMBOO on 13TH MARCH 2017 11:20 PM
TONTINE TIM
The strange thing about that 65 league cup final was that Celtic won with 2 Hughes goals – both penalties!
Could that happen today?
================================================
Each of which was possible to deny.
Even for a hun.
If he was.
WINNING CAPTAINS on 13TH MARCH 2017 11:35 PM
Mags
I didn’t delete your post as I am not a moderator.
====================================================
That narrows it down , Mags.
Margaret, I most certainly did not e-mail anybody.
I have the courage of my convictions, I responded to your post openly on the blog & said what I thought of it.
Perhaps my public post did alert the Moderator and if so I make no apology for that.
However I have never ratted on anyone in my life. If I have something to say, I’ll say it openly & not behind anyone’s back.
Tontine Tim on 13th March 2017 10:21 pm
That is an utterly brilliant historical post!
Great reading.
Cheers
BRTH
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 13TH MARCH 2017 11:58 PM
Oh ,dear.
” impossible “
corkcelt on 14th March 2017 12:02 am
Its ok. Im glad you did. I have just proven that CQN has a moderator problem.
Satan gave me a Taco
Chicken Skin Music
@Margaret McGill I emailed and asked for your post (10.28pm) to be deleted because I found it crass, homophobic and distasteful.